Updated 11:22 pm, Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Lasko gutted out a complete-game, six-hitter in Tuesday's SWC baseball semifinal against Stratford, lifting third-seeded Bunnell to a 5-3 win at Bethel High.

Catcher Brian Valeriano gave Lasko a cushion in the sixth, tripling home two runs to make it 4-0. Stratford, the seventh seed, scored three runs and brought the tying run to the plate in the seventh, but Lasko put the finishing touches on a start that was far from perfect.

"Lasko's very, very tough," Stratford coach Mick Buckmir said. "This is the fourth time we've faced him the last two years, and we haven't beaten him yet. He's outstanding.

"I don't think he had his best, best stuff today. But you know what? That's the sign of a great pitcher. ¦ He still was mowing us down."

As a result, Bunnell (17-5) advanced to Wednesday's final (7 p.m. at Bethel High) against top-seeded Masuk. The Panthers rallied to beat fourth-seeded Pomperaug, 6-5, in the nightcap of Tuesday's semifinals.

"It feels good to be back," said Lasko, who struck out eight and walked four in an outing that exceeded 100 pitches. "We've got some unfinished business."

Last year Bunnell stormed into the SWC playoffs as the top seed, but a 12-4 loss to Notre Dame-Fairfield in the semifinals squashed title hopes. This time around, the Bulldogs used some clutch at-bats to keep their chances alive. It was their third win over the rival Red Devils this season.

Shortstop Aaron Rios got Bunnell on the board in the first inning with a sacrifice fly off right-hander Jack Duffy. Lasko made it 2-0 with a two-out single in the fifth.

The Bulldogs' lead could've been greater, if not for eight runners left on base through five innings. They were fortunate to have Lasko, who held Stratford (11-11) to just three hits over the first six innings.

"He's a senior. We expect him to get the job done, and he did," Bunnell coach Scott Szturma said.

Szturma will now hand the ball to Rossomando on three days' rest for the final. Masuk, which came back from 4-0 down against Pomperaug, is ready for the challenge.

"We'll take that when we get there tomorrow (today)," Panthers coach Ralph Franco said. "When you're facing one of the best pitchers in the state, you know it's going to be a good game."

The Panthers (16-6) used a four-run fifth to tie Pomperaug, and Kyle Horton gave them the lead for good in the sixth with a two-run single. Right-hander Chris Lindquist allowed a run in the seventh, but he stranded the tying run on second base with a strikeout to secure his complete-game victory.

"We knew we were not playing our best at that time (down 4-0). But once we got into that hole, we just had to chip away at it," said Horton, who also had a two-run single in the fifth. "Eventually the balls started to fall, and we started getting runners in scoring position. We were getting guys going. Things started going our way."

Pomperaug took a 1-0 lead in the first on a single by Brian Dagostino. Nathan Zappone singled home another run in the second, and two more runners scored just moments later on a fielding error. Unfortunately for Pomperaug, the cushion wasn't big enough.

"It's tough," Pomperaug coach Mike Eisenbach said. "You've got Masuk there. They're a good team. They're the No. 1 seed for a reason. We jumped on them early, and we had opportunities in the middle of the game. They kept fighting back."

Anthony Amoroso jump-started Masuk's rally in the fifth with a one-out bunt single. A throwing error put runners on second and third, and Horton, Nick Maini and Tim Quinlan followed with hits to tie it, 4-4.

Pomperaug (12-10) managed just six hits off Lindquist (six strikeouts, three walks).